Picture perfect: Congo ranger’s gorilla selfie goes viral

FILE PHOTO: Mathieu Shamavu, Virunga Ranger and caretaker at Senkwekwe Center for Orphaned Mountain Gorillas poses for a selfie with two gorillas at Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo April 18, 2019 in this picture obtained from social media April 25, 2019. Mathieu Shamavu for www.virunga.org via REUTERS

Standing casually and turning their heads to stare straight at the camera, Ndakazi and Ndeze look like any cool selfie pros – only these posers are gorillas.

Mathieu Shamavu, Virunga ranger and caretaker at the park’s Senkwekwe Center for Orphaned Mountain Gorillas, said he was out walking with Ndakazi and Ndeze when he spotted a photo opportunity.

“We let them loose so they are at ease. They were curious about what was happening. They stood up. And when they stood up, I took my phone because I didn’t want to lose the shot because it was exceptional,” Shamavu said in an interview.

“When they saw me take out my phone they dropped what they were doing, spotted the camera and watched.”

Ndakazi and Ndeze were raised by caretakers at the Senkwekwe Center after being rescued in 2007 when they were babies.

The park, which lies amid the volcanic mountains of Central Africa, is home to more than half of the total population of mountain gorillas, an endangered species facing threats from poachers and armed groups.

“When they saw me take out my phone they dropped what they were doing, spotted the camera and watched.”

Ndakazi and Ndeze were raised by caretakers at the Senkwekwe Center after being rescued in 2007 when they were babies.

The park, which lies amid the volcanic mountains of Central Africa, is home to more than half of the total population of mountain gorillas, an endangered species facing threats from poachers and armed groups.